Wildcats, Hawkeyes have something to prove
Pat Fitzgerald didn't appreciate the way Northwestern fell apart in the fourth quarter at Purdue.
The coach showed his displeasure Wednesday, making the team run extra sprints after one player slipped up in the section of practice fittingly called the fourth quarter.
"Excuses get you beat!" Fitzgerald barked.
"You got what you deserved!"
"We win the fourth quarter around here!"
But standing outside the visitors' locker room at Purdue, Fitzgerald insisted the loss was not demoralizing because the team didn't play its best. Failing to reach peak performance level has been a theme this season for NU, which admittedly is searching for its first complete game.
The problem: Time is running out for the Wildcats to put it all together.
Saturday's game against Iowa at Ryan Field (11 a.m., ESPN2) would be an ideal time for some synergy. NU (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) likely needs wins in two of its final three games to secure a bowl berth.
"There is always concern that you don't put together the perfect game," Fitzgerald said. "That's what you're searching for. But football isn't a game of perfect. You need to just continually improve, and we have."
Running back Tyrell Sutton is confident the Wildcats can still reach fifth gear.
"Sometimes, you have to save the best for last," said Sutton, who rushed for 168 yards in NU's win last season at Iowa. "As long as we can come out and get a complete game in these last three, nothing else really matters."
The truth is NU doesn't need a flawless effort to beat Iowa, which hasn't won a true road game this season and ranks 115th nationally in scoring offense (17.1 ppg). But the injury-depleted Hawkeyes (4-5, 2-4) have won two of their last three to set up a once unthinkable bowl push.
Iowa's defensive front seven is one of the Big Ten's best. Defensive tackle Mitch King is tied for fifth in the league in tackles for loss (11.5), and end Bryan Mattison ranks seventh in sacks (6.5). The Hawkeyes allow just 3.1 yards per rush, though several opposing backs - Javon Ringer (103 yards), Rodney Kinlaw (168 yards) - have been successful against them.
"They don't have a lot of tricks up their sleeve, they don't blitz a lot," NU left tackle Dylan Thiry said. "They play their technique and they play it well. We know we're not going to get a lot of help on certain blocks. It's 1-on-1 battles, and we're going to have to execute."
NU's duty on defense is unmistakable - stop Albert Young. The Iowa senior exploded for 179 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns against Michigan State after failing to reach triple digits in the previous seven games.
Two years ago, Young registered career highs in rushing yards (202), rushing attempts (38), kickoff return yards (70) and all-purpose yards (274) in Iowa's come-from-ahead loss to Northwestern. The Wildcats were gashed last week by Purdue's Jaycen Taylor and have allowed a 100-yard rusher in all five of their Big Ten games this season.
"(Iowa's) blocking schemes are a lot like Michigan and Nevada ran," NU defensive tackle Adam Hahn said. "It's something we've seen before."
The teams have split their last 12 meetings, and Thiry senses a rivalry brewing.
"They have a lot to prove this game and we have a lot to prove for our season - can we rebound after a tough loss?" Thiry said. "All the ingredients are there for a rivalry game, and that's what it's become."
Iowa (4-5, 2-4) at Northwestern (5-4, 2-3)
When: 11 a.m. Saturday at Ryan Field
TV: ESPN2 Radio: WGN 720-AM, WNUR 89.3-FM
Series: Iowa leads 45-20-3
Coaches: Kirk Ferentz (59-48, ninth year at Iowa; 71-69, 12th year overall); Pat Fitzgerald (9-12, second year at NU and overall).
Players to watch: Iowa linebacker Mike Humpal is tied for the Big Ten tackles lead with Illinois' J Leman (11.1 tpg). QB Jake Christensen has thrown 12 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions, but his completion percentage (52.6) ranks last among Big Ten starters.
NU senior wide receiver Kim Thompson has caught 5 passes in each of the last three games.
The skinny: NU has won its last two games against Iowa and needs a third to become bowl eligible. The Hawkeyes are winless in four true road games this season - they beat Northern Illinois at Soldier Field - but have looked better in recent weeks. NU junior Amado Villarreal practiced kickoffs this week and could handle the duties for the second consecutive game. Iowa cornerback Adam Shada, strong safety Devan Moylan and fullback Jordan McLaughlin will miss the game with injuries.